Oswego, NY - Oswego County is getting an $8.34 million state grant to improve primary and urgent care health services for residents, but no one knows yet if some of the money will be used to save the Central Square Health Center.

Oswego Health, the parent company of Oswego Hospital, announced the grant will allow it to address the needs of Central Square residents with what it called a "convenient care center" that will provide walk-in health services for minor injuries and illnesses. Oswego Health did not say where the center will be located or when it will begin operating.

Lifetime Health Medical Group, the Rochester-based owner of the Central Square Health Center, has tried unsuccessfully since 2005 to find a buyer for the primary care clinic. Lifetime wants to close the center, but the state has told the company it cannot do that until it comes up with a plan for patients. A closure would leave an estimated 18,000 people without health care.

In announcing the grant, state Health Commissioner Dr. Richard F. Daines said the money will be used to improve primary care in Oswego County and address the urgent care needs of residents, especially those in Central Square.

The grant is being awarded to Oswego Health, Oswego County Opportunities and Northern Oswego County Health Services, which are working together on a plan to restructure primary and urgent care services in the county. The three organizations operate primary care centers in Oswego, Fulton, Phoenix, Mexico and Parish. The centers would operate collaboratively under the plan.

Oswego County Legislator Fred Beardsley, R-Hastings, said the organizations may be negotiating a takeover of the Central Square Health Center. "The question is whether it will remain a facility that has doctors and operates in a manner we are accustomed to, or will it be an urgent care center?" he said.

Having an urgent care center in Central Square would be a much better alternative than just closing the center and leaving residents without any care, he said.

"I am very happy we are moving forward," Beardsley said. "I just don't know what we're happy about yet," he said.

Drew Mangione, a spokesman for Sen. Darrel J. Aubertine, D-Cape Vincent, said the question of how and if the Central Square Health Center will fit into the plan is still up in the air.

"Although the details have not been worked out regarding facilities and exactly how it will happen, this funding is intended to ensure people of Central Square and residents throughout the county have the health care they need," Mangione said.

Oswego County is getting the grant under the Health Care Efficiency and Affordabilty Law for New Yorkers, known as HEAL-NY. The grants are intended to improve the quality, stability and efficiency of health care services around the state.